DefenceStill being reviewed
In one sentence
Keeps a full-back back: at team attacking level 2 he never makes the wide forward run, at the highest he runs only once play is 10 m into the opponents' half; his in-possession spot is held back by up to 5 m and he misses several forward pushes. No stat effect.
Who does this affect?
Only while the computer controls him (computer-run team-mate or opponent). Found on: Compatible positions in the code: LB, RB. On cards: RB 358, LB 312 (670 in the mobile card data).
How it works
The computer's run planner for wide players uses a team attacking level the code keeps (0 to 4; it is raised and lowered during the match). At level 0 nobody makes this run; at level 1 only when the team-mate the run is planned around is at least 26 m into the opponents' half. At level 2 a Defensive Full-back never makes the run; at level 3 only when the reference team-mate is at least 10 m into the opponents' half. In the in-possession shape his spot is pulled back by up to 5 m (the opposite of Attacking Full-back's push), and while the ball is in play his reference spot is pulled halfway towards a team line. He is left out of a +5 m forward push that most players get and out of one support rule that lets a full-back aim 8 m ahead.
When it applies
- Only when deployed at LB or RB. Anywhere else the style is off.
Without it
A full-back without the style can make the run at level 2 and at level 3 with less strict limits, and gets the normal pushes.
Common questions
Will a Defensive Full-back never attack?
Short answerPartly
He never makes the wide forward run at team attacking level 2, but can at level 3 once play is 10 m into the opponents' half.
Does the style improve his defending?
Short answerNo
No defending stat or tackle code reads it; it only changes how far forward he goes.
The maths
ConditionOnly at LB or RB.
ConditionRun planner: level 2 never; level 3 only with the reference team-mate 10 m or more into the opponents' half.
StepIn-possession shape: pulled back by up to 5 m (scaled by the same 0–1 team-shape factor as Attacking Full-back's push).
StepWhile the ball is in play: his reference spot is moved 50 % of the way towards a team line.
DetailLeft out of a +5 m push (with Goal Poacher, Target Man, Prolific Winger) and of the 8 m support-aim rule for full-backs.
DetailHe is also left out of one extra evaluation step in the computer's on-ball decisions (with Anchor Man, Fox in the Box, The Destroyer, Build Up).
DetailThe style is read in about a dozen more positioning checks; those were not traced to what they do on the pitch.
DetailNot used by this style: Defensive Awareness, Speed and Stamina are not read by the style's checks.; No stat is raised by the style.